There are so
many, starting with characters popping into my head out of nowhere, demanding
to be in the story; writing the last sentence; holding the book fresh off the
press in my hands; hearing from the readers…no, no, wait, the best one is
creating a world out of nothingness. Kinda makes me feel like a Goddess.
[chuckles] I just wish I had the body for it. And a beautiful flowing white dress.

What is the
hardest thing, for you, about being a writer?

It would definitely have to be writing itself. I’m the
world’s biggest procrastinator. Don’t get me wrong—there’s not a time I don’t
have a story in my head. The hardest part is to get rid of all the distractions
(like social media), opening Word, and starting on that glittering white, blank
page.

What genre/s do
you write and what genre is your latest release?

I can write pretty much everything, except
post-apocalyptic novels because I don’t like them. I also don’t do vampires and
zombies. But, I do love monsters. My latest release is a women’s fiction/chick
lit, Heartbreak Hotel, published by
Black Opal Books with whom I’ve also signed a contract for my historical
mystery w/ supernatural elements novel, The
Guardian. I wrote a children’s chapter book, The Mysterious Mandolin, this summer, which is being illustrated by
a very talented artist and will be available soon. And my WIP is a MG/YA
project about a girl named Story. So when it comes to writing I’m quite
versatile, I would say.

What essential
things have you learned about writing in the last year?

I’ve learned to tie the loose ends. Bring the story full
circle. And allow my husband into my brainstorming sessions, but only if he
promises to make dinner. He’s a great cook. J

Who is your
favorite heroine from your books and why?

Nurse Agnes—hands down—from The Guardian, even though she’s not the main character. She’s
someone I’d like to be when I get to be her age. She is smart, strong, knows
her place in the world, and stands up for her beliefs. She is a guardian, to
some extent, because she protects those who aren’t able to protect themselves.

What advice can
you offer to aspiring authors?

Read. Read a lot.
Read every day. And read closely. What better way to learn the craft of creative
writing than to study its elements from books you love, books that inspire you?

Write. Write all the
time. Write for as long as the words flow spontaneously, but never empty the
well. Stop while you know what you will write tomorrow. This is a perfect way
to prevent writer’s block, though I’m not sure there’s such a thing.

Always falling head over heels for men who have nothing to offer her,
and running from those who do, Kara realizes that her quest to find Mr. Right
is harder than expected. As if her “mostly ludicrous” dating escapades weren’t
enough to deal with, her unusual combination of friends—one gay, one a virgin,
one dating a married man, and one always telling her to “give it up on the first date in order to
start a flourishing relationship”—isn’t of much help in matters of the heart
either. Perhaps a kiss in the middle of the Charles Bridge could finally bring
her happiness. But wait! That’s just an old myth, isn’t it?